NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed a pact to accelerate collaboration on space nuclear power and propulsion. The agreement establishes a framework for the joint design, development, and deployment of nuclear systems, covering research, testing, and launch operations.
The initiative supports the development of the SR-1 Freedom vehicle, which is scheduled for launch in 2028. This project is part of a broader government science package exceeding $6 billion, which also provides funding for 10 NASA Genesis Mission Fellows specializing in AI and engineering.
NASA reports that the Moon Base project is ahead of its original schedule. The agency plans to launch the first base component in December, with a series of uncrewed robotic missions to follow starting in early 2027, aiming to surpass the national goal of 2030.
The agreement formalizes existing plans, including a lunar reactor memorandum of understanding signed in January and the SR-1 project introduced in March. It implements the December 2025 executive order on space superiority and the NSTM-3 white house memo.
